The Isle of Wight is no longer under a hosepipe ban after Southern Water lifted restrictions.
The measure, officially known as a ‘temporary use ban’, had been in force since the first week of August.
It was put in place to protect the habitats of the River Test and River Itchen, after water levels dropped amid one of the hottest and driest summers on record.
Community support for these measures over the past three months helped the utility firm save around 11 million litres of water.
This reduction in demand, combined with recent cooler and wetter weather, has seen river levels improve enough so that restrictions can be removed, Southern Water said.
But the region is still suffering from the effects of this year’s drought, with river and reservoir levels remaining lower than expected for this time of year across the region.
Katy Taylor, Southern Water’s Chief Customer Officer, said:
“Thank you to everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who has supported this hosepipe ban over the past three months. We know it has been inconvenient, but your help has allowed us to protect our environment during almost unprecedented drought conditions.
“While we are now in a position to lift the ban – news which I am sure will be widely welcomed – we continue to experience the effects of drought across our region, with river and reservoir levels not back to where they really should be at this time of year.
“This is why we continue to encourage everyone to play their part in using water wisely through the coming months. In the face of climate change and population growth, a dry winter could put us at risk of drought and restrictions again next year, so we must do what we can to protect and preserve this precious resource.”